Damascus Knife Blade Etching Instructions

Etching Damascus is a fairly stright forward process that can enhance the
appearance of a blade or help you recover from a mistake.

I use Radio Shack PCB board etching solution ($11.49 for 16 oz.) as my etchant
medium.

Etching the blade is a matter of submersing the blade in the etchant for
15 - 20 minutes and then washing it in hot water and detergent (You
can also use baking soda or ammonia to neutralize the etching solution).
Washing the blade is the messy part. The etching process releases
carbon from the steel and it turns your hands black (as well as your sink,
much to my wife's dismay). But it does wash off with some scrubbing.

Oil the blade after washing.

If you don't like the results, you can just throw it back in the etchant
solution for another round of soaking and washing.

I have sanded a blade down to the point where there isn't a visable pattern
and brought it back like new with etching. Etching is also handy for
repairing errent sanding marks and for bringing the pattern back on the spine
and edges. When doing the final fit on scales I use a small drum sander
to bring the scales down to the blade edges. This has a tendency to
remove the pattern from the edges. I selectively apply etchant to the
edges with a paper towel several times over a period of 15 minutes and then
wash it. You would never know that you had sanded the edges smooth..
You can also selectively apply etchant to errent sanding marks with
the same effect.

I use a 1 liter soda bottle with the side cut out as my etchant "tank". The
1 liter size allows you to etch large blades and the screw top provides a
convenient way to pour the etchant back in the Radio Shack bottle for safe
keeping. Do not use a metal container as your tank!